Disaster Resilience Champions
In December 2004 a tsunami devastated Aceh and left more than 200,000 dead. The tragedy motivated the Indonesian government to launch programs in reducing risk of disasters. This produced results. At the 2011 ASEAN Summit in Bali this week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to be recognized as a Disaster Risk Reduction Champion by the United Nations. Disaster risk reduction champions can also be found in various parts of Indonesia. Banda Aceh has won recognition in the Asia Pacific region for the successful post-disaster reconstruction. The village of Loto in North Maluku was saved from lava from Mount Gamalama two times, in 1980 and 2003. And there is a village in Alor, East Nusa Tenggara, that has provided protection for its people from floods and landslides. Tempo English Edition reports from Aceh, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.
November 16, 2011
SIRENS were wailing, pervading the morning air. People were dispersing. Mothers were hugging their children tightly. Residents of Dayah Geulumpang and Alue Dayah Teungoh villages, Meuraxa district, Banda Aceh, were racing to reach an escape building 14 meters high to save their lives. "There was an earthquake at 09:00. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported a potential tsunami, residents have only 15 minutes before the
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